TSA names new security director at Albany International Airport

Brian Johansson, a graduate of the University of Vermont who retired from the U.S. Army as director of air operations for its 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta at Fort Bragg, N.C., is the new federal security director at Albany International Airport, the Transportation Security Administration announced today.

He succeeds Paul Varville in the position.

“Johansson is a proven leader and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new position,” said Mo McGowan, TSA assistant administrator for security operations.

Johansson has served since 2002 in a TSA administrative capacity at Syracuse-Hancock International Airport and more recently was Hancock’s assistant federal security director.

Johansson also graduated from the U.S. Army’s flight school in 1984 as a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot. In the Army, he conducted airport security surveys at more than 75 airports in more than 50 different countries, and flew multiple combat reconnaissance and gunship missions throughout Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.